JAKARTA: President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo (pic) has made a cryptic remark about support coming and going in droves during a presidential tenure, fanning speculations that the outgoing leader is trying to consolidate support around him as his decade-long term in office is coming to an end.
Speaking at a NasDem Party congress on Sunday (Aug 25) night, Jokowi talked about his tumultuous relationship with party chair Surya Paloh, saying that he appreciated Surya for being the first to back his presidential bid in 2014.
But he also mentioned NasDem's decision to support his antithesis, Anies Baswedan, in the February presidential election.
Anies ran against Jokowi’s preferred successor president-elect Prabowo Subianto and running mate Gibran Rakabuming Raka, Jokowi’s eldest son.
“[Surya and I] could be very close but have differing opinions,” Jokowi said.
“Once, we shook hands and agreed [on something]. But, just a week later, it was another thing entirely. That’s okay, it’s just politics.”
And with Jokowi’s presidency coming to an end in just two months, Jokowi said that he appreciated NasDem’s decision to support the incoming administration of Prabowo. NasDem is currently a member of the coalition supporting Jokowi’s outgoing government.
“Usually, [support] would come in droves [at the start of a presidency]. But, once it’s almost over, it would also leave in droves. I’m sure it will not happen with Surya and the NasDem party,” Jokowi said.
While Jokowi did not single out any names or any political party, observers speculated that his remarks reflected his own current situation, particularly as questions continue to emerge about the state of his relationship with Prabowo.
Jokowi has courted controversy of late after the House of Representatives tried to pass a controversial revision to the Regional Elections Law that would have greatly benefited him by allowing his youngest son Kaesang Pangrep to seek office in Central Java.
On the back of public furor over the revision attempt, Prabowo said on Saturday that he denounced politicians whose hunger for power had put their own interests above the people.
“Some [people] have an endless thirst for power. And, with the powers [bestowed upon them], seek to pursue interests outside of the people’s. This will disrupt or harm a nation,” Prabowo said at the National Mandate Party (PAN) national congress in Jakarta.
But in the same speech, Prabowo also rubbished speculations that his relationship with Jokowi had begun to show cracks.
In the lead-up to his inauguration, more and more parties have flocked to Prabowo and his Gerindra Party-led Onward Indonesia Coalition (KIM), with the latest being the National Awakening Party (PKB), one of three of Anies’ former presidential sponsors. The PKB announced on Sunday that it would support Prabowo’s incoming administration. - The Jakarta Post/ANN
